Heritage Plan
Consultation has concluded

The public is invited to provide input into the development of the City of St. John’s new Heritage Plan which will guide the city in managing, maintaining, and protecting our heritage resources in the future. The plan will align with the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan and the Heritage By-Law.
The Heritage Plan will look beyond built heritage. It may also consider things such as our city’s cultural heritage and landscapes, festivals, historic events, stories/oral traditions, place names, and public art.
The overarching goals of the Heritage Plan include:
- Protecting built heritage and recognizing cultural landscapes
- Working toward reconciliation with Indigenous residents
- Identifying ways to celebrate our history and the array of cultures in St. John’s
- Reviewing the Heritage Financial Incentives Program
- Enhancing accessibility of our heritage, both online and physical forms
Join the discussion and help shape the new Heritage Plan.
Attend an in-person or virtual public engagement session:
- In person – Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the Foran Greene Room, Fourth Floor, City Hall, register here.
- Virtual – Tuesday, March 14 at 7 p.m., register here.
To learn more about St. John's Heritage, please see the FAQs. Tell us your ideas or use the map to learn more about heritage areas and existing City designated heritage buildings and make your suggestions there.
City staff will review and consider your feedback before drafting the Heritage Plan.
The public is invited to provide input into the development of the City of St. John’s new Heritage Plan which will guide the city in managing, maintaining, and protecting our heritage resources in the future. The plan will align with the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan and the Heritage By-Law.
The Heritage Plan will look beyond built heritage. It may also consider things such as our city’s cultural heritage and landscapes, festivals, historic events, stories/oral traditions, place names, and public art.
The overarching goals of the Heritage Plan include:
- Protecting built heritage and recognizing cultural landscapes
- Working toward reconciliation with Indigenous residents
- Identifying ways to celebrate our history and the array of cultures in St. John’s
- Reviewing the Heritage Financial Incentives Program
- Enhancing accessibility of our heritage, both online and physical forms
Join the discussion and help shape the new Heritage Plan.
Attend an in-person or virtual public engagement session:
- In person – Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the Foran Greene Room, Fourth Floor, City Hall, register here.
- Virtual – Tuesday, March 14 at 7 p.m., register here.
To learn more about St. John's Heritage, please see the FAQs. Tell us your ideas or use the map to learn more about heritage areas and existing City designated heritage buildings and make your suggestions there.
City staff will review and consider your feedback before drafting the Heritage Plan.
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Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.GB8 months ago
Restoration of Streetscapes
The purpose would be to restore the streetscapes to historically appropriate architecture predating July 1, 1916, the battle at Beaumont-Hamel. The premise of this proposal is if the soldiers who died that day could return to St. John's, would they still recognize the city they left behind? The idea is similar to the steps taken to rebuild European cities after WW2, such as Warsaw in Poland, where photographs can be used to reconstruct the destroyed facades. While some argue this is fake architecture, similar to a Disney World, the difference is this restoration would be historically appropriate to St. John's and hold a more profound significance to the province's history and pay respect to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. As the scope is only the front facades of structures, this policy can be applied to new construction and renovations. For example, the 2016 extension of the Scotia Centre could have included the restoration of the previous façade facing Water Street and Ayres Cove. The Anglican Parish Hall Development could have also incorporated façade restoration along Queens Road, including a partial tower reconstruction, without impacting the larger Phase 3 development.
0 comment0ahowlett9 months agoMake this city wide.
As someone in GOULDS I love to see the heritage disgination to a city wide thing..
0 comment0mpl8 months agoDeconstruction & Salvage Policy
Deconstruction & salvage of all available architectural & heritage building materials (interior & exterior) when a heritage property has been approved for demolition by the City. Applicable when heritage properties have been determined to have reached the end of their life in terms of preservation, restoration or re-use due to owner inability (or owner decision) not to maintain and preserve a heritage property - essentially demolition by neglect. Admittedly, this idea may seem out of place in a discussion concerning the many variables involved in creating a new Heritage Plan. It is an unusual perspective as I have long voiced concerns regarding a number of built heritage properties throughout the City & Province. I support & encourage the full protection of heritage & historic structures (& any related ideas that can lead to them being saved, restored, preserved, rehabilitated & re-used) but I cannot ignore the reality that continues to happen in our City (and beyond) as individual structures disappear one-by-one by swift, mechanical demolition. *I've drafted a longer, detailed & referenced document that I will forward to Council separately.
0 comment0John248 months agoConverting to clean heating energy will be a challenge for some heritage buildings. Reliable guidelines for all building types are necessary
Guidelines for conversion to clean energy
0 comment0mjphilpott9 months agoOverhaul the Heritage Area Design Standards
Distinctive original features in the Heritage Areas are being replaced with generic approximations. Materials are being added where they never existed and do not make sense. It is easier to demolish a building than it is to install a non-standard window. In fact, there's no limit on demolition at all. This is all permitted, and sometimes encouraged, by the current Heritage Area Design Standards. Whether we reference the national Standards and Guidelines or not, our approach needs a rethink.
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What cultural landscapes and intangible cultural heritage are important to you within this plan?
8 months agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Learn more about cultural landscapes and intangible cultural heritage in the FAQs.
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Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.StJosephs8 months ago
City needs to encourage (not hinder as is done now) infill development that celebrates new architecture that will be future heritage.
0 comment0StJosephs8 months agoConsider future heritage; build new “heritage”. Current development of the burbs will be just as ugly and unliveable 100 years from now.
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How would you like to learn about heritage? (ex: newsletter, walking tour, website, etc.)
8 months agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded. -
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How should the City promote its heritage?
8 months agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.
Lifecycle
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Public Engagement
Heritage Plan has finished this stageJoin the discussion and help shape the new Heritage Plan.
Attend an in-person or virtual public engagement session:
- In-person – Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the Foran Greene Room, Fourth Floor, City Hall. Registration required.
- Virtual – Tuesday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Registration required.
If you are unable to attend the information sessions, use the tools on this page to provide your feedback or email your comments to engage@stjohns.ca.
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Feedback being reviewed
Heritage Plan has finished this stageContributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review.
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What We Heard document released
Heritage Plan is currently at this stageReleased June 16, 2023. Read the document to learn what we heard through the consultation.
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Heritage Plan being drafted
this is an upcoming stage for Heritage Plan -
Heritage Plan released for public review
this is an upcoming stage for Heritage Plan -
Final approval of Heritage Plan at Council Meeting
this is an upcoming stage for Heritage Plan
Key Dates
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20 February 2023
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08 March 2023
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14 March 2023
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10 April 2023
FAQs
- What is the purpose of a Heritage Plan?
- Why is built heritage important?
- How many Heritage Buildings does St. John's have?
- What is a cultural landscape?
- What is intangible cultural heritage?
- What does Envision St. John's say about heritage?
- What other stakeholders will be contacted?
- What programs does the City offer to protect built heritage?
Related projects
Archived Projects
Who's Listening
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KO
Email kobrien@stjohns.ca -
Planner III - Urban Design and Heritage
Department of Planning, Engineering & Regulatory Services
ACEmail acashin@stjohns.ca -
Phone 576-8286 Email mburton@stjohns.ca